| The purpose of this study was to analyze quality vocational agriculture programs in the United States with application to vocational agriculture programs in Sierra Leone. The study consisted of determination of effectiveness of present program components in the United States of America. It also consisted of a determination of the ability of selected components of vocational agriculture in the United States to accomplish program goals. The goals and component relationship will be available for application in similar vocational agriculture programs in Sierra Leone.;There were two broad categories of data that were collected for this study: primary and secondary. Primary data, both written and oral, included the original records and first-person accounts and recollections of conditions and events related to the purpose of the study. Secondary data consisted of printed materials removed in time and context from the original conditions, persons, and events.;Eleven goal statements and six program components were developed from the literature review. A questionnaire consisting of the eleven student goals and six program components was mailed to forty-six Established teachers and forty-six Beginning teachers in States that have vocational agriculture programs in the high school curriculum. These were to determine how effective the program components are in achieving the goal statements.;Findings were as follows: (1) Data showed that the primary components of a vocational agriculture program were: FFA, SOEP, Classroom instruction, and adult education programs. The Secondary components were: professionalism and advisory committees. (2) The main goals that vocational agriculture programs were to achieve are as follows: (a) teaching skills, (b) leadership, (c) exploration, (d) part-time job, (e) work habits, (f) involvement, (g) scholarship, (h) financial goals, (i) conservation, (j) youth groups, and (k) community projects. (3) Based on the literature review and experience of the researcher as a Sierra Leonean vocational agriculture teacher, many of the program components and student goals of the United States and Sierra Leone are similar.;This study was a descriptive survey of vocational agriculture programs in the United States which focused on evaluating these programs to determine appropriate program guidelines for consideration in Sierra Leone. |
